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Army

PHOTO GALLERY

Army’s top museum reopens on the service’s 246th birthday

Stars and Stripes •
The Path of Remembrance, featuring about 8,000 commemorative bricks, at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

The Path of Remembrance, featuring about 8,000 commemorative bricks, at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

FORT BELVOIR, Va, — The National Museum of the United States Army reopened its doors to the public Monday to help the service celebrate its 246th birthday.

The museum, located just outside Fort Belvoir, originally opened on Veterans Day 2020 after many years of anticipation. Only 32 days later, however, an uptick in the coronavirus pandemic resulted in its closing.

Timed-entry tickets for the museum are available at https://www.thenmusa.org/visit/#get-tickets.

Glass panels matching the Army’s campaign streamers line the ceiling in the lobby of the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day (and the service's 246th birthday), June 14, 2021.

Glass panels matching the Army’s campaign streamers line the ceiling in the lobby of the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day (and the service's 246th birthday), June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Soldiers from Fort Myer, Va., dressed in uniforms from various eras, stand in front of a display listing the Army's campaigns in the lobby of the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021, which is also the service's 246th birthday.

Soldiers from Fort Myer, Va., dressed in uniforms from various eras, stand in front of a display listing the Army's campaigns in the lobby of the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021, which is also the service's 246th birthday. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Tne Soldiers' Stories Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

Tne Soldiers' Stories Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

An exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army highlights changes in the service over the years.

An exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army highlights changes in the service over the years. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

An exhibit on the public's reaction to wars at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

An exhibit on the public's reaction to wars at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

An exhibit honors Army pack mules at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

An exhibit honors Army pack mules at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Congressional Gold Medals honoring Comanche Code Talkers, on display at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

Congressional Gold Medals honoring Comanche Code Talkers, on display at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Weaponry on display in the Founding the Nation Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

Weaponry on display in the Founding the Nation Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A Civil War exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

A Civil War exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A visitor takes in the Civil War exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

A visitor takes in the Civil War exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A Civil War exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

A Civil War exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

An exhibit of Civil War medical tools at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

An exhibit of Civil War medical tools at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Visitors to the National Museum of the United States Army look at an interactive exhibit on the museum's reopening day, June 14, 2021.

Visitors to the National Museum of the United States Army look at an interactive exhibit on the museum's reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A soldier with a World War I uniform and weapon talks with visitors to the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

A soldier with a World War I uniform and weapon talks with visitors to the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A World War I exhibit in the Nation Overseas Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

A World War I exhibit in the Nation Overseas Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Photos of World War I doughboys fill a wall in the Nation Overseas Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

Photos of World War I doughboys fill a wall in the Nation Overseas Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

An exhibit in the Nation Overseas Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army tells the story of the Army's World War II casualties.

An exhibit in the Nation Overseas Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army tells the story of the Army's World War II casualties. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

An exhibit about the World War II invasion of France at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

An exhibit about the World War II invasion of France at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

An M-209 Converter, a portable mechanical cipher machine used by the Army during World War II, at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

An M-209 Converter, a portable mechanical cipher machine used by the Army during World War II, at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

This "unofficial general officer's summer service cap" at the National Museum of the United States Army was bought by Gen. Douglas MacArthur from the Vanguard Insignia Co. of New York.

This "unofficial general officer's summer service cap" at the National Museum of the United States Army was bought by Gen. Douglas MacArthur from the Vanguard Insignia Co. of New York. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Two active-duty soldiers dressed in period uniforms check out a Jeep at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

Two active-duty soldiers dressed in period uniforms check out a Jeep at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A video plays behind a map of Europe in the Cold War exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

A video plays behind a map of Europe in the Cold War exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Two visitors to the National Museum of the United States Army look at a map of Vietnam on June 14, 2021.

Two visitors to the National Museum of the United States Army look at a map of Vietnam on June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Combat journalists' patches and notebook at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

Combat journalists' patches and notebook at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A helmet cover from Vietnam in 1968 at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

A helmet cover from Vietnam in 1968 at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

The Vietnam War display at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

The Vietnam War display at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

An engine recovered from the remains of Super 6-1, the call sign for the first UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter shot down during what became known as the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia (popularly referred to as “Black Hawk Down”), at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

An engine recovered from the remains of Super 6-1, the call sign for the first UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter shot down during what became known as the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia (popularly referred to as “Black Hawk Down”), at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

This partially-burned flag with bits of aluminum melted into it, recovered from the Pentagon after the 9/11 attack, is on display at the National Museum of the United States Army.

This partially-burned flag with bits of aluminum melted into it, recovered from the Pentagon after the 9/11 attack, is on display at the National Museum of the United States Army. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A display at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021, tells the story of insider attacks in Afghanistan.

A display at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021, tells the story of insider attacks in Afghanistan. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A carving by Bataan Death March survivor Pfc. Clayton Rollins in the Art of Soldiering Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army.

A carving by Bataan Death March survivor Pfc. Clayton Rollins in the Art of Soldiering Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A cartoon by "Family Circus" artist Bil Keane in the Art of Soldiering Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army. Keane drew for Yank magazine and Stars and Stripes in the 1940s.

A cartoon by "Family Circus" artist Bil Keane in the Art of Soldiering Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army. Keane drew for Yank magazine and Stars and Stripes in the 1940s. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A visitor reads the introduction to the Art of Soldiering exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

A visitor reads the introduction to the Art of Soldiering exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

The Medal of Honor Garden at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

The Medal of Honor Garden at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the World War II Japanese-American Nisei soldiers, at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

A Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the World War II Japanese-American Nisei soldiers, at the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A plaque honors World War I hero Sgt. Alvin York at the entrance of the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

A plaque honors World War I hero Sgt. Alvin York at the entrance of the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Visitors view unit tributes outside the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021.

Visitors view unit tributes outside the National Museum of the United States Army on its reopening day, June 14, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

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